Ballet Folklorico Takes the Stage on Mexican Independence Day
"Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico!" students and staff chanted as everyone gathered around the stage. The weather was sunny and clear as posters of the red white and green Mexican flag were hung on the walls of the amphitheater in honor of the Mexican Independence Day - September 16. This day honors when, on September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rallied the people of Mexico to fight for their independence from Spain. Every year, we rally to remember and celebrate.
Members of the school's Ballet Folklorico put on quite a performance as they danced to traditional Mexican music while wearing formal white and red attire. The ladies' flowy dresses waved around the stage while the men kept good posture and their shoes and heels tapped against the floor.
Ms. Maldonado, director for Ballet Folklorico, shared about this celebration saying, "It's important because celebrating this day and Hispanic heritage month nationally recognizes and gives credit to people that made extremely significant changes which molds what our lives are like today."
After Ballet Folklorico's performance, the DJ played more modern music, prompting the rest of the student body to get involved. Dozens of eager and excited students jumped on stage to join Ballet Folklorico in dancing to the tunes of "Achy Breaky Heart" and the "Cha Cha Slide."
Taryn Anaya (11), had a great time and exclaimed, "This rally was really fun and helps us to remember our heritage."
Chris Maldonado (11) agreed with Taryn, "Most people think that the Mexican Independence day is Cinco de Mayo, so it's cool that we're celebrating on the right day. The dancing was really fun and the rally really reminds us of our heritage."
- story by Lorenz Dodson-Carag, Photography by Ana Melina Matias Morales
Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Crusan
Mrs. Crusan is an amazing teacher at PVHS. She teaches Home Living and Relationships and Family. She is also an advisor for the FHA Club; a club for people interested in careers in family consumer sciences.
This summer she and her husband went on a 4,500 mile road trip through 8 states over a period of two and a half weeks. The couple visited Vegas, Zion National Park, Mount Rushmore, Yellow Stone, Idaho, Oregon, and the Bad Lands in South Dakota. During their travels they stayed in approximately twelve different hotels. In Oregon they toured the Air and Space Museum and in Yellowstone they saw bison, grizzly bears, and elk.
Mrs. Crusan said that she always wanted to travel because she had never done it before. She had such a great time that she is planning on another trip next summer to the South, but this time she wants to fly so that she can have more time to vacation. Mrs. Crusan took lots of pictures and was kind enough to share them with us.
-Jasmin Ramos
Mr. and Mrs. Crusan in front of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
Geysers of Yellowstone.
A rocket at the Oregon Air and Space Museum.
Mr. and Mrs. Crusan in front of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
EW! I Hate That Food
There is food that's good and food that's great, but some food is just plain disgusting. A few students at PVHS were asked “What is the worst food you have ever eaten?”
Berenice (9), said that the worst food she's ever eaten is oysters. “They taste nasty and I really don’t like them.” She added that no matter who cooks them, she still hates them.
Erving (12) hates eating crickets. “It tastes like eating a human being. It’s horrible.” He even hates how it’s so crunchy!
Hallie (9), explained that the worst food she's ever had was Mac and Cheese. “I use to love it, but then it got to the point where my mom would serve it every day for dinner constantly. I got tired of it and just hated it.” She hates the smell of it and even her taste buds agree!
Kelsey (9), despises spaghetti. “I think it tastes like worms, and that’s really nasty.” The person who cooks the worm-like noodles swimming in red sauce is her mom. She just straight-up hates it.
-By Melanie Naraval